Monkey business

Monkey business

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Macao has not had an easy couple of months. With the outbreak of the coronavirus in January, there have been many tough weeks for residents, businesses and the government. However, as the city strides forward in the face of adversity over the coming weeks, Macao Magazine would like to take a couple of pages to focus on a cute snippet of good news. Especially if you’re a fan of monkeys.

On Valentine’s Day of all days – 14 February – the city welcomed its newest furry resident at Seac Pai Van Park in Coloane, which is famous for its pandas, peacocks and many other creatures that are on show to the public. According to the Government Information Bureau, the new addition is the first infant of a pair of seven-year-old golden snub-nosed monkeys called ‘San Hei’ (三黑) – which means ‘Three Black’ in English – and ‘Eleven’ (十一).

The Municipal Affairs Bureau has since been monitoring the primate family’s health from a distance so as to avoid any disturbances as the proud mum nurses her firstborn. It has been reported that both are in a stable condition and, as a result, on 14 March, the baby – who is yet to be officially named – was shown to the public for the first time at the park, exactly one month after he was born. This was three weeks after the park resumed operation on 20 February after being closed as a response to the government’s COVID-19 measures.

Macao Magazine sent a member of staff to the zoo a few days after the baby was shown to the public for the first time to see the new monkey and we can safely report that mother and baby were inseparable during our visit. Of course, mum wouldn’t let anyone too close to her son – who we hear is already learning to climb trees – so the adorable baby clung to his mother’s neck and was cuddled by her at all times.

The mother and father golden snub-nosed monkeys have been living at Seac Pai Van Park since 25 October 2017. They are on loan from the Municipal Services Department of the Qingdao Wildlife Rescue Centre in the port city of Qinhuangdao in Hebei province. After the new infant reaches 24 months old, he will be returned to the Qingdao centre. But until then he will likely be a popular attraction for Macao residents and tourists to see with his parents at Seac Pai Van Park.

The new baby and his mother, ‘Eleven’, are inseparable | Photo Courtesy of Municipal Affairs Bureau

The snub-nosed facts

Know your golden snub-nosed monkeys

The golden snub-nosed monkey is a unique species in China, a national first-class protected rare and endangered species.